Investing is a tricky business; luckily the weekend papers were on hand to help

If you’re one of the ever decreasing number of people these days with money to invest you were treated to a veritable smorgasbord of top tips in the weekend’s money sections.

In the Independent on Sunday Julian Knight gave a comprehensive breakdown of sectors (these included…deep breath…Emerging markets, Corporate bonds, Natural Resources, Technology, Small Companies, Japan, US, Europe, UK and Absolute Return) that Isas can be invested in.  Having recruited eight IFAs to give their best picks this article was packed with ideas for readers who might still be undecided on where to invest.  Paul Farrow wrote a similar piece, in the Telegraph on Saturday, looking at where the best funds are, including an old favourite, Neil Woodford’s Invesco Perpetual High Income fund and one of our favourites (and client, ahem) GLG Japan Core Alpha.

Japan and Technology, 10 years on from the bubble bursting, seemed to be doing something right if commentary is anything to go by. Emma Wall in The Telegraph looked into the Technology sector which could now be making a slight come back with brave investors (Polar Capital’s Technology trust was a popular choice). While investing in Japan got the green light in Dylan Lobo’s Citywire article after Scott McGlashan of JOHCM (of former ‘urging investors to steer clear of Japan before it went downhill in the 90s’ fame) announced a new beginning for the sector. Meanwhile, courtesy of Neptune, Ian Cowie’s trip to Japan had him raving about the opportunities.

However, both Matthew Vincent (FT Money) and David Budworth (The Times) took a different tack, with Budworth looking at ways to successfully invest by fighting your instincts and Vincent, on the other hand, warning of the risks when investing in UCITs III funds, having looked at research from Kepler Partners.

Whatever your taste it is fair to say there were meaty investment advice morsels a plenty at the weekend.

The overall scores on the board were:

Charity                   2%

Credit cards          6%

Fraud/scams        6%

IFAs                        0%

Insurance              4%

Investment           31%

Mortgages            4%

Pensions               8%

Regulation            4%

Savings                 20%

Tax                         4%

Utilities                 11%